Oh, Momma.....

As some of you know, things have been a little scary around here.  My mom had a stroke back in January. By the grace of God and the good lovin' Universe the side effects were so minimal that she was back up and running within several weeks. Her recovery was amazing and we are so blessed all things considered.

However, her doctors were determined to find the cause seeing as she's in perfectly good health and all tests they ran came back leaving a huge question mark ? on the problem.  The final test they ran was an angiogram. An angiogram is an X-ray test that uses a special dye and camera to take pictures of the blood flow in an artery or a vein. The angiogram found a cluster of abnormal veins in her brain that connected parts of her blood flow to another artery therefore redirecting blood to other places within her brain. These veins were also collected blood in certain spots which as bound to cause to an aneurysm if not taken care of NOW.

A blast from the past! Mom and I circa '04 at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival

They scheduled a procedure called a cerebral embolization. In embolization procedures, physicians use image guidance to fill AVMs with liquid embolic agents (similar to fast-sealing glue), thereby treating the presenting symptoms, and preventing new ones.

Here's a great website that tells more: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=dc-embol

The complications and risks were huge - everything from blindness to paralysis to another stoke right on the table. And if they weren't able to block the flow of blood, brain surgery would've been required... of course, leading to a million other incredibly scary outcomes.

It's important to have faith and trust in the Universe. 

Everything about this issue, all the bits and pieces leading up to this moment all fell in line, right down to moving to Cleveland years ago and having access to the Cleveland Clinic, one of the most prestigious hospitals in the world. Had we not already lived here, we probably would've travelled to Cleveland for the procedure.

It was a long and grueling day in the waiting room.  My emotions were like a roller coaster.  My mother is not only my best friend but she raised me as a single mother and I'm her only child.  We are all we've ever had and all we've ever been able to depend on.  I'm so lucky and so fortunate to not only know this woman but to be a product of her.  She is the strongest most beautiful woman I've ever known.

Anyway, long story short, the procedure worked and she's going to be ok!  

No side effects other than a splitting head ache and few follow ups with the doctor. The entire neurology team was on this case, they were prepared with several back up plans and what if scenarios. But none of it was needed. Plan A worked and she's going to back her life with no long term disabilities or health concerns. Un-fucking-believe!!! 

Here's the before (left) and after (right) images of the blood flow in her brain at the spot of concern. 

You can see on the left were all the excess blood flow was happening and then here you can see on the right were they were able to insert the epoxy like material and stop the blood from routing into those dangerous veins. Hats off to the neurology team at the Cleveland Clinic. They performed what I perceive to be a miracle and they saved my mom.

Much love to the Universe!!! Thank you for taking care of the most important woman in my life and giving us many many more years to make memories and share in this life together.

I love you, Mom.